Mortal Kombat’s NetherRealm and Ed Boon are Going Through Midway 2.0 as Potential Sale Looms, But Fans Can’t Wait

Mortal Kombat is easily one of the most popular and one of the longest gaming franchises ever. Created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, the franchise has been a staple in the fighting game genre for over three decades now. 

But now, as Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly considering selling off its gaming division due to enormous debt, fans can’t help but draw parallels to the original studio of Mortal Kombat, Midway Games, and their demise back in 2009. 

Fans Are Excited as Mortal Kombat Could Get a New Publisher

Midway, the original publisher of the series, filed for bankruptcy back in 2009, and Warner Bros. swooped in to acquire the assets, including the franchise. This acquisition led to the birth of NetherRealm Studios, which continued to develop Mortal Kombat games under WB Interactive Entertainment.

Comment
byu/MisuCra from discussion
inMortalKombat

Fast forward to 2024, and the gaming community is speculating that history might be repeating itself. Most fans are hopeful, with some seeing this potential sale as a chance for the studio to escape WB’s management, which many believe has led to a decline in game quality.

Comment
byu/MisuCra from discussion
inMortalKombat

There’s a growing sentiment among the community that WB’s focus on live-service games and microtransactions has been detrimental to the franchise, as is evident by Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

Comment
byu/MisuCra from discussion
inMortalKombat

One common opinion is that WB’s ownership has not been beneficial for the franchise, with many pointing out how the predatory microtransactions and other controversies have made things worse.

There is hope that, if the IP is sold to a better company, or if the studio somehow gains independence, the franchise might return to its former glory. Fans are dreaming of a future where the franchise can thrive without the pressure of monetization strategies overshadowing the gameplay experience.

The situation has also led to discussions about WB’s overall strategy and leadership under David Zaslav. The company’s struggles, especially in the gaming division, have left many fans questioning the wisdom behind potentially selling off such a valuable asset for short-term gains. They’re clearly not thinking long-term.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s Game Revenue Drops

Warner Bros. Discovery’s financial troubles are no secret, and the company’s gaming division has taken a significant hit recently. 

According to a recent earnings report, the company’s game revenue dropped a staggering 41% compared to the same period last year. This decline has been largely attributed to the poor performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

The drop in revenue comes at a time when the company is already dealing with substantial debt. The company’s overall financial situation is pretty bad, with an overall net loss of $10 billion in the latest quarter, including $9.1 billion in impairment charges. 

This financial pressure has reportedly pushed WB to consider selling or licensing its gaming division, a move that could significantly alter the landscape of the gaming industry, especially DC properties.

There’s confusion over whether the entire gaming division or just specific IPs might be on the chopping block, with fans concerned about what this could mean for the future of their favorite franchises. No one wants more live-service games.

Are you hoping that Mortal Kombat gets licensed or sold to another publisher? Let us know in the comments.